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By PAUL SUTTOR
September 30, 2003
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ST George Illawarra are hopeful of locking skipper Trent Barrett into a long-term contract after yesterday announcing the recruitment of a raft of new Dragons.
Chief executive Peter Doust has set his sights on locking Barrett, who is not off contract until the end of next year, away to a long-term deal.
"Hopefully we'll have something resolved in the next few weeks," he said.
Wests Tigers utility Lincoln Withers is the biggest name among the new recruits.
Withers, who can handle hooker as well as the halves, has been signed primarily as a back-up to first-choice rake Mark Riddell.
"We think he adds dimensions to us," Doust said.
"He plays a different style of hooker to Mark, which gives us some options against different teams.
"Mark has played very well this year and this is not in any way a lack of confidence in him, it's about flexibility and variation."
The Dragons have bolstered their three-quarter line by signing former junior All Blacks winger Edwin Asotasi from the Bulldogs, young Sharks speedster Nick Youngquest, South Sydney rookie Luke Roberts and Wests goal kicker John Olzard.
"They're young guys with some particular potential," Doust said.
They have also secured the services of Magpies five-eighth Clint Greenshields, ex-Warriors back rower Sala Fa'alogo and Premier League Sharks prop David Tangata-Toa, younger brother of former Dragons forward Andrew.
The Dragons have exercised an option on the services of lock Henry Perenara, and have also re-signed Premier League pivot Lachlan Russell and full-back Reece Simmonds for 2004.
Young forwards Bryan Norrie and Michael Henderson have also had their deals extended to the end of the 2005 season.
Half-back Keiran Kerr, utility Chris Nero and centre John Wilshere look like continuing their careers in England, while winger Hassan Saleh and back rower Nathan Tutt have been released.
Hooker-half Damien Bower is off contract, but could be retained when the Dragons fill the remaining "one or two" holes in their 2004 roster.
September 30, 2003
<o
></o>ST George Illawarra are hopeful of locking skipper Trent Barrett into a long-term contract after yesterday announcing the recruitment of a raft of new Dragons.
Chief executive Peter Doust has set his sights on locking Barrett, who is not off contract until the end of next year, away to a long-term deal.
"Hopefully we'll have something resolved in the next few weeks," he said.
Wests Tigers utility Lincoln Withers is the biggest name among the new recruits.
Withers, who can handle hooker as well as the halves, has been signed primarily as a back-up to first-choice rake Mark Riddell.
"We think he adds dimensions to us," Doust said.
"He plays a different style of hooker to Mark, which gives us some options against different teams.
"Mark has played very well this year and this is not in any way a lack of confidence in him, it's about flexibility and variation."
The Dragons have bolstered their three-quarter line by signing former junior All Blacks winger Edwin Asotasi from the Bulldogs, young Sharks speedster Nick Youngquest, South Sydney rookie Luke Roberts and Wests goal kicker John Olzard.
"They're young guys with some particular potential," Doust said.
They have also secured the services of Magpies five-eighth Clint Greenshields, ex-Warriors back rower Sala Fa'alogo and Premier League Sharks prop David Tangata-Toa, younger brother of former Dragons forward Andrew.
The Dragons have exercised an option on the services of lock Henry Perenara, and have also re-signed Premier League pivot Lachlan Russell and full-back Reece Simmonds for 2004.
Young forwards Bryan Norrie and Michael Henderson have also had their deals extended to the end of the 2005 season.
Half-back Keiran Kerr, utility Chris Nero and centre John Wilshere look like continuing their careers in England, while winger Hassan Saleh and back rower Nathan Tutt have been released.
Hooker-half Damien Bower is off contract, but could be retained when the Dragons fill the remaining "one or two" holes in their 2004 roster.
